Starter for explosive-engines.



J. A. BLACK. STARTER I OR EXPLOIVE ENGINES. APPLICATION min 00-1220, 1909.

Patented Feb. 14, 1911.

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J. A. BLAOK. STAR-TEE FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED, OUT. 20, 1909.

Patented Feb. 14,1911.

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

JOHN A. BLACK, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

STARTER FOR EXPLOSIVE-ENGINES. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 14, 1911.

Application filed October 20, 1909. Serial No. 523,604.

, tion, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. p

This invention relates to starters for explosive engines, and more particularly to starters'for automobile engines.

The object of'the invention is to provide 1 means whereby the engine of an automobile, of that type employing explosive engines,

- can be started by the chauffeur from his seat in the automoblle with but slight effort.

, To this end it is a further object of-the invention to arovide means for storing.

power in a su cient-quantity to rotate the engine shaft and'impart the initial movementtothe piston of the engine; to provide means for applying this power to the engine shaft; and further, to provide means whereby the power will be stored by the action of the engine itself while in operation.

\Vith these objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features andin certain combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter to be described, and then more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the forward portion of an automobile equipped with myinvention; Fig. 2 is a detail view of the ratchet mechanism by means of which the sleeve is controlled; Fig. 3 is atransverse, sectional view, taken on the-line a: w of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4 is a transverse, sectional View taken on the line I 3 y of Fig. 1. and looking in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 5 is a transverse, sectional View, taken on the line .2 z of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Inthese drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention and have I engine of thetype ordinarily employed-for and which extends rearwardly substantially shown the same as applied to an explosive driving automob les. (I I As here shown, the engine 1, which may consist of any desired number of cylinders, is supported upon the main frame 2 and is ber 6 of the main frame, where it may be cooperate with a clutch member 10 rigidly are so arranged that when the sleeve is 1'0- tated in a forward direction, 2'. 6., in the direct-ion in which the shaft rotates to drive the machine forward, the sleeve and shaft ,will be caused to rotate together, but, should the shaft attain a greater speed than that at which the sleeve is rotating, it will move ahead of the sleeve, the clutch members of the sleeve riding loosely over the clutch member of the shaft. A spring 11 is coiled about the sleeve 8, has its inner end rigidly secured thereto and its outer and connected to a fixed part of the frame, such as an arch or transverse member 12 extending between the side members of the main frame. This spring is so arranged that when the sleeve 8 is rotated in a reverse direction, 11. e., in a direction op posite the direction of forward rotation of the shaft, the spring will be compressed, and, when released and permitted to expand, will rotate the sleeve 8 in a forward direction, and, if the clutch members are in engagement, the shaft 3 will be rotated and the initial movement imparted to the pistons of the engine.

l The sleeve 8 may be rotated to compress the spring 11 in any desired manner, but I have shown the sleeve as having mounted connected by means of a sprocket chain 13 with a second sprocket wheel 1 1 secured to a countershaft 15 which is mounted inbear ing brackets 16, 17 and l7 secured to one of the side members of the main frame,

parallel with the engine 'shaft and has end thereof a gear, 18 which is connected by means of idle gears 19 and 20 with a pinion 21 rigidly secured to a sleeve 22 -wliich loosely mounted upon the shaft 3 secured to the shaft 3. The clutch members thereon, preferably at a point forward of the spring, a sprocket wheel .13 which is therearof the eng n 1 and Preferably" its rear end a clutch member 9 adapted to rigidly secured theretonear the rearward I beyond the balance wheel 23.. The sleeye 22 carries at its forward end a clutch member 24 adapted to cooperate with the corresponding clutch member 25 rigidly secured to the shaft 3. Theseclutch members are so arranged that when they are in engage? ment and the engine shaft is rotating in a forward direction, the sleeve will be caused to rotate in unison with the shaft and movement will be imparted through the train of gearing to the shaft 15 .and from theshaft 15 through the sprocket chain 13 to the sleeve 8,the arrangement of the gearing being such that the sleeve will be rotated in a reverse direction, thereby compressing the spring 11. The sleeve 2 is held normally in its rearward position in which the clutch inembers 24 and 25 are out of engagement one with the other, it being retained normally in this position by means of a spring 26. Suitable means under the con trol of the chauffeur are provided for throwing the clutch members into engagement and thus causing the spring to be compressed. This means is here shown as comprising a bell crank lever 27 connected with the sleeve 22 by means of a pin 28 which is carried by one of the arms thereof and: enters an annular groove 29in the sleeve. The other arm of the bell crank lever 27 is connected with a push rod 30 arranged in a position to be readily actuated by'the chauffeur from his seat in the vehicle. Thus when it is desired to compressj the spring, the foot lever 30 is actuatedto throw the clutch members 24 and 25.into engagement and thus actuate the sleeve 8 and compress the spring 11. It will be noted'that the idle gear 20 is of a width suflicient to allow the necessary movement to the pinion 21 and sleeve 22.

The spring 11 may be retained in its compressed conunlon .in'any suitable manner, but, to acomplish this, I have, in the present instance, mounted a, ratchet wheel 31 upon the sleeve 8 and have mounted a pawl 32 in a bracket 33 which is secured to the main frame. This pawl is 'of but slightly greater width than is the ratchet wheel and is provided with a toe 34 which engages the bracket 33 in such a manner as toprevent the same from dropping below a certain position. A spring 35 arranged between the end of the sleeve 8 5111\1 the transverse member 6 of the main frame tends to move the sleeve 8 rearwardly and thus, brine the clutch members 9 and 10 into operative relation. 7 The sleeve is, however, held against such movement-by means of a lever 36 which is pivotally mounted on .a bracket-37 carried by the transverse member 6 of the main frame and has one arm, thereof arranged to engage the rear side of the ratchet wheel 31 and the other arm thereof connected by means ofa rod 38 with a hand lever 39 hand lever '39 to throw that end of the lever 36, which is'in engagement with the ratchet -wheel 31 forward,-and locking the same in that position, the clutch members 9 and 10 will be held out of engagement one with the.

other. As soon as the hand lever'39 is released, however, the spring 35 will move the sleeve 38 rearward to bring the clutch member 9-into operative relation with theclutch member 10. This rearward move- 'ment of the sleeve also carries the ratchet wheel 31 out ofengagement withthe pawl 32 and permits the spring 11- to expand,

this expansion rotating the sleeve [8' in a forwai'ddirection and, through-the medium of the clutch members 9 and 10, rotating the engine shaft forward sufliciently to impart the initial movement to the piston of-t-he engine and start the operation of the same.

,When the operation of theengine begins the beveled face of theclutch member 10,

which is securedto the engine shaft, will ride over the beveled nose of the clutch member 9 o'fthe sleeve until the lever- 39 has been actuated to withdraw the sleeve 8. The toe 34 of the pawl maintains the same in such a position that the ratchet can again be moved into engagement therewith.

After the sleeve has been moved forwardly to separate the clutch members 9 and 10 the foot lever 30 is actuated to bring the clutch members 24 and 25 into their operative re lation and the forward movement of the engine again compresses the spring 11 and :stores thepower necessary to again start the engine after it has come to .a step.

In order that the operator or chauffeur can ascertain when the spring is completely wound or sufficient power has been stored, a gage 42 is supported in such a position that it can be conveniently read by him and is connected, by means of a cord 43 which extends about guides 44, with the sleeve 8 to which it is secured in such a manner that the rotationof the sleeve in a reverse direction to compress'the spring will wind the cord uponthe sleeve and thus actuate the gage which will indicatethe number of revolu-.

tions of the sleeve, and, consequently, the

amount of compressmn of the spring. The operation of the device has been fully described 111-COI1I16Ct1011 with the description of the several parts thereof and it will be apparent that'I have provided means where :by power may be stored at a point adjacent the engine shaft by the action of the engine itself while it is in o eration and may be applied to the engine s aft while'the-engine is idle to impart the initial movement to thepiston of the engine and thus start the gine, and "its shaft, of a sleeve rotatably mounted on said shaft on one side of said engine, clutch mechanism-underthe controlof the operator for connecting and disconnecting said'sleevevto and from said shaft, a.

'spring connectedto said sleeve and arran ed parallel with the first-mentioned shaft, andm'eans for operativelvconnecting each of said sleeves with said, shaft. I

7. The combination, with an expipsi's e en -i gine, and a, shaft, of a sleeve loosely mount: ed on said shaft, means for operatively cone meeting said sleeve with said shaft, 0. spring connected to said ,sleeve' and arranged tobe compressedby the rotation thereof in-one direction, means actuated by saidmngine for rotating said sleeve to compress; said spring, means for holding saidsleeve against rotation-in the opposite direction, and means for. simultaneously connecting said sleeve with said shaft" and for disconnecting the same from said" holding means, thereby per-'- mitting said spring-to x'pandand' to rotate said;shaft'.

8. The combination, .with an explosive engine and its shaft, of a sleeve-loosely mount-- jed onsaid shaft and having a clutch'member,v a second clutch member mounted "on said shaft adapted to cooperate. with the clutch member of said sleeve, a spring connected to said sleeve and adapted to be-com pressed by the: rotation thereof,- a second sleeve mounted on saidshaft and operatively connected to. the first-mentioned sleeve, means for connecting and disconnectingfthe last-mentioned sleeve to said sliaft, and means for actuating the first-mentioned sleeveto move the"'c"'liitch'member carried therebyyinto and out of operative relation= with the clu-tch member on said shaft; 9. The'combination, with an GXPlOSIVG'E II- giii'e, and a shaft, of a sleeve loosely mount- "ed on said shaft and havinga. clutch memher, a clutch member mounted on'said shaft and arranged to cooperate ,with :the clutch member on saidsleeve, the cluinh member 'on said sleevevbeing' normall out of engagement with-the clutch me'm r on said shaft,

aspriiig connected to'sa'id. sleeve and adapted to be compressed by the rotation thereof in one direction, means for rotating said .sleeve' to compress said spring,'means for holdin fsaidsleeve against rotation-in the opposi c"- direction, and means for moving the clutch member ofsaid sleeve'intoioperiltive relation to the clutch member on said shaft an'd for releasing" said clutch member from said holding means.

10. The itment-son, an" exp losive engine, andiashaft, of a clutch member rigidly secured tosaid shaft, a sleeve loosely mounted 'onsaid shaft and having 'a clutch member arranged to cooperate with the clutch-- member on said shaft,-a springconnected to said sleeve andadapted to'be com pressed by the-rotationthereof in one direction, means for rotating said sleeve to compress said spring, holding means to prevent th rotation of said sleeve in the opposite lll6CtiOIl, a: springjtending to shift said sleeve to move the clutch member thereof Y into operative relationwith the clutch member on said shaft and torelease said sleeve frgin said holding means, and means for 1'8? taming sa d sleeve in its; retracted position against the action of said spring.

-1l.-The mbination, with an ex losifve engine and its shaft of a sleeve oosely' mountedfthereon and avinga clutch member, a.cl utch member. mounted on said shaft and '-adapted to cooperate with the. clutch member of i said-sleeve, a spring connected" to said sleeve and adapted to becompressed by the rotation ofsaid sleeve in one -direc-. tion,,means' actuated-b the'engine for rotatingsaidsleevein a irection to com ress said sprin'g,;.means for retaming' said 5 eeve against rotationfaftersaid spring has-been compressed, and. :means. for movin saidv sleevefto cause :the clutch member t ereof to a tho-gcllitch member on said shaft and to ease-saadfholdiiig-means-and per- 'mit said sleeve to 'rotatedfhy the expansion of said. spring.

- 12. The coinbination, with an ex losive mounted thereon ,and'having a clutch mem- :ber, a second clu'tch member mounted on said shaft and adapted to cooperate with the clutch-member on said sleeve, a spring con- .nected to said sleeve and ada tdto be compressed by the rotation of said slee've in one direction, meansadapted to be actuated by 1 the eng ne while in operation to rotate saidsleeve in a direction to compress said spring,

a ratchet secured tosaid sleeve, and a pawl adapted .to engagesaid ratchet to hold said sleeve against rotation and retain said spring engine and its shaft, 'of a "sleeve oosely" in its compressed condition, a second spring tending to impart lon 'tudinal movement to said. sleeve to'mov'e said'clutch members into operative relation-one with the other,- and means under thecontrol of-the operator for releasing said last-mentioned spring. 5:13. In an automobile, the geombination,

with an explosive engine and-jts-shaft, of'fa' sleeve loosely mounted on said shaft in front of said engine and havingaclutchmember, a second clutch member mounted on said shaft adapted to cooperate with-the clutch member on said sleeve, :1 s ring coiled about said sleeve having one en connected thereto I and the other endconnected to the frame. of

said automobile, a ratchet Wheel secured to said sleeve, a pawl mounted on the main frame of said automobile and adapted to engage said ratchet, a second spring arranged to move said sleeve longitudinally of said shaft to move said clutch members into operative relation one with the other and to d1sengage said ratchet from said pawl, means under the control of the chauffeur for moving said sleeve longitudinally of said shaft against the tension of the last-mentioned spring and for retaining the same in such position, a second sleeve mounted on said shaft in the rear of said engine and having aclutch member, a cooperating clutch member mounted on said shaft, means for moving said last-mentioned sleeve longitudinally of said'shaft to move said last-mentioned clutch members into and out of operative relation one with the other, a counter-v shaft, and means for connecting said counand adapted to be compressed by the r otation of said sleeve in one direction, means adapted to be actuated by the engine when in operation for rotating said sleeve to compress said spring, and a gage connected to said sleeve and arranged in view of. the chauffeur to indicate the amount of compression of said spring.

15, The combination, with an explosive engine, and a shaft,of a rotatable member mounted on said shaft and normally disconnected therefrom, a spring connected with said rotatable member and arranged to be compressedby the rotation thereof in one direction, a second rotatable member mounted on said shaft and normally disconnected therefrom, and means for operatively connecting said second rotatable member with the first-mentioned rotatable member to ro-,

JOHN A. BLACK. Witnesses:

ELZA F. MCKEE, EDWARD S. REED. 

